Dangerous bacteria that cause Legionnaires found in River Ure

Stop Ure Pollution (SUP) carried out water monitoring on the Rivers Ure, Wye and Thames recently, including at Hawes.

Another bacterium found at Hawes was described as a 'serious pathogen' by the UK-based biotechnology company, Molendotech, which carried out the comparison arranged by SUP Chairman Richard Loukota.

The company analysed water samples from two sites on the River Thames, one on the River Wye and one on the River Ure using environmental DNA (eDNA) testing.

River Ure (Image: STOP URE POLLUTION)

Only those from the Ure were described by the company as of the "greatest clinical concern," according to the campaign group.

The pollution in the Ure was highlighted last week when SUP received a report from a visitor that his dog, Elsie, became seriously ill after drinking river water.

Richard Loukota, chairman of Stop Ure Pollution, said: "The [test] results should be a wake-up call. The River Ure has performed worse than the River Wye, which is widely regarded as one of Britain's most environmentally damaged rivers, and worse than the Thames despite its far larger population.

"It is time for every organisation with direct or indirect responsibility for the river; the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, farmers, agricultural contractors, landowners and Local Authorities to acknowledge the scale of the problem and work together to stop pollutants entering the river."

The River Ure sample contained E. coli levels of 3,700 CFU/100mL, almost twice those recorded in the River Wye and more than five times the level found at Henley on the River Thames, despite the Thames serving a vastly larger population.

The findings reinforce Stop Ure Pollution's weekly monitoring at Aysgarth Falls and Ulshaw Bridge.

SUP believes the evidence points towards a combination of diffuse agricultural pollution, particularly slurry and manure entering watercourses, together with untreated sewage released from wastewater treatment works and storm overflows.

During the winter, volunteers recorded and reported 192 acres of alleged illegal slurry spreading to the Environment Agency, while Yorkshire Water's 18 sewage treatment works in the River Ure catchment recorded 1,797 sewage overflow events lasting a combined 4,215 hours during 2025; combined, this is a total of over 175 days of untreated sewage entering the River Ure.

And SUP’s vice chairman Toby Milbank added: "The Environment Agency's 'advice-led' approach has run its course and has been largely ineffective in protecting England’s rivers.

"The Farming Rules for Water must be properly enforced; illegal slurry spreading of organic manures is a criminal offence but the number of prosecutions in the River Wye catchment, Thames and the River Ure Catchment combined, is currently zero.

"In addition, 1,797 sewage overflow events should never be regarded as acceptable.

"Only by tackling agricultural runoff, improving sewage treatment infrastructure and restoring natural river buffer zones will we begin to return the River Ure to good ecological health."

Responding to the concerns, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are working with several organisations to improve water quality and biodiversity in the River Ure.

“This includes providing funding and support for a wide range of projects and initiatives, along with giving technical advice and guidance to help landowners reduce the risk of pollution from their land.”

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson added: “The results from Stop Ure Pollution’s monitoring highlight the challenges that remain in the River Ure, and we are determined to play our part to improve its health.

“We will be investing millions of pounds in 14 storm overflows that discharge into the River Ure by 2030, as part of a £1.5bn investment across the region to reduce discharges to watercourses.

“While we reduce discharges, it is important other organisations, businesses, and individuals come together so we can tackle all sources of pollution to our region’s watercourses. We’ll continue working with Stop Ure Pollution on this.”